Multiphysics equivalent circuit of a thermally controlled hydrogel microvalve. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voigt, Andreas; Marschner, Uwe; Richter, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of intelligent material systems and structures. Volume 28:Number 16(2017)
• Page Start: 2265
• Page End: 2274
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: circuit representation -- equivalent circuit -- microvalve -- multiphysics modeling -- network modeling -- stimuli-responsive hydrogels -- stimuli-sensitive hydrogels -- thermal control; Smart materials -- Periodicals; Intelligent control systems -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; Matériaux intelligents -- Périodiques; Commande intelligente -- Périodiques; Intelligence artificielle -- Périodiques; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1177/1045389X16685445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-389X

Abstract

Temperature-responsive hydrogels are polymer particles whose equilibrium size depends on the temperature of the water they are immersed in. Here we present an equivalent circuit model of a temperature-controlled microvalve based on hydrogel particles. The resulting network model consists of three physical subsystems. The thermal subsystem considers the heat capacities and thermal resistances of the layers of the valve and the coupling to the ambient environment. The polymeric subsystem describes the relaxation of the hydrogel particles to the temperature-dependent equilibrium size. The fluidic subsystem consists of the supply channel and a chamber whose cross section varies according to the size of the hydrogel particles. All subsystems are described and coupled within one single circuit. Thus the transient behavior of the valve can be calculated using a circuit simulator. Simulation results for a setup are presented and compared with experiments.